Bring back peaceful atmosphere in the country through dialogue

FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed speaks at a press conference

Business leaders yesterday (29 October 2013) urged the leaders of all political parties to bring back peaceful atmosphere in the country through dialogue.
“We don’t want any third force (in state power). Our previous experience on third force is not good,??? said Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
He however did not elaborate on the “third force???.
Addressing a press conference at FBCCI’s Motijheel office, Ahmed said, “If the political leaders do not pay heed to our request, we will create more pressure on them for resolving the political impasse.???
“We do not want emergency. We are hopeful that the two leaders (Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia) will resolve the political crisis through dialogue,??? he said.
“But we are worried about our business. Now, we want a peaceful atmosphere to carry out our business activities,??? he added.
Welcoming the Saturday’s conversation between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition chief Khaleda Zia over phone, Ahmed said: “Ice has started to melt. We hope that the conversation will advance and they will reach a consensus.???
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda made phone call Saturday over an initiative to hold dialogue for consensus over the polls-time government format for the next parliamentary election.
The press conference was held when the 18-party alliance is observing a 60-hour hartal demanding an all-party polls-time government. The shutdown will end at 6:00pm today.
The BNP chief on October 21 proposed forming a non-partisan election-time government headed by a respected person to be chosen by consensus between the ruling and opposition parties and that 10 advisers would come from the caretaker governments of 1996 and 2001.
Khaleda came up with the proposal in a counter move to the prime minister’s recent offer to form an all-party election-time government.
In her proposal, she however didn’t clarify who would head the all-party polls-time government.